The lighter color of the venter, especially of the belly, contrasts with the duller, darker vinaceous color of the dorsum.
Coloration: As described for the species, but darkest of the three subspecies; tending to be more Vinaceous dorsally than either pallidiceps or centralasiae.
Coloration: As described for the subspecies garrula, but less Vinaceous dorsally, and more Cinnamon; venter lighter gray than garrula, and much paler than pallidiceps.
The underlying spots are in pale shades of "vinaceous drab.
The young male is like the adult female but lacks the nuchal band and under parts have no vinaceous wash; wing-coverts and feathers of breast tipped with yellowish brown.
Resembles the female, but with some trace of the vinaceous purple color on the neck, and of the brown-orange on the breast.
Color pattern as in the male but the vinaceous-red replaced by earthy brown; under parts paler with a faint vinaceous wash; head brown like the back.
In size and color pattern this species closely resembles Lanius nasutus Scopoli from which it may be distinguished by the pale color of the scapulars, back, and rump, as well as by the pinkish vinaceous color of the abdomen.
As the bird becomes older the vinaceous of head, and pink and scarlet of under parts, gradually appear.
The color varies from vinaceous cinnamon to chestnut or light leather color, or tawny, paler in age, and sometimes darker on the center.
The =pileus= is convex to nearly expanded, pale red, rose pink to vinaceous pink in color, and sometimes slightly tomentose.
It is of a pinkish yellow color, one plant beingvinaceous pink and another cream buff in color.
The =gills= are vinaceous rufus to deep flesh color, strongly sinuate, and irregularly notched along the edge.
Cap vinaceous buff to orange buff, scales lilac, purple or lavender; gills drab to hair brown (natural size).
The =pileus= is convex to expanded, vinaceous cinnamon, to pinkish vinaceous or hazel in color.
